A hiker in Canada’s Kootenay National Park recently had a frightening close encounter with a family of grizzly bears after coming face to face with two cubs on the popular Rockwall Trail.
The hiker, Keith Kerr, had briefly let his guard down to send a text message while moving through an area known for frequent bear activity. He has surveyed the surrounding area and knew that a mother grizzly and her two cubs regularly traveled through the location. After approaching a small bush, both cubs suddenly appeared and moved toward him. Within a few seconds the mother bear was involved as well.
The mother grizzly made an initial false charge, stopping less than 10 feet away, but she did not make contact. Keith retreated down the trail where a second encounter, the one caught in the video below, occurred. In total it lasted less than a minute.
The hiker continued backing away, giving the bears space while speaking in a firm voice. Eventually he was able to create enough separation and get away safely. Kerr did have bear spray ready to deploy if necessary, but it fortunately didn’t come to that.
Kerr let his guard down for just a few seconds, but that was enough to find himself just a few feet away from the cubs. The mother grizzly is reportedly seen frequently along the Rockwall Trail and is usually observed from a distance without incident, but this was a case of both hiker and bear surprised by a close encounter.
Even experienced hikers can find themselves in dangerous situations when wildlife is nearby. Only around 9 to 16 grizzly bears call Kootenay National Park home, but that’s enough to create a situation like the one above. If you’re moving through bear country, ensure you stay alert, cary bear spray at all times, and know how to respond to a wildlife encounter. Read more on bear safety in Canadian national parks below.
Parks Canada Bear Encounter Guidelines:
If you SEE a bear
Stop and remain calm. Be ready to use bear spray. Do not run away.
OBSERVE:
Is the bear UNAWARE of your presence?
Move away quietly without getting its attention.
Is the bear AWARE of your presence?
Bears may bluff their way out of an encounter by charging and then turning away at the last second. Bears may also react defensively by woofing, growling, snapping their jaws and laying their ears back.
- Stay calm. Calm behaviour can reassure the bear. Screams or sudden movements may trigger an attack.
- Speak to the bear. Talk calmly and firmly. This lets the bear know you are human and not a prey animal. If a bear rears on its hind legs and waves its nose about, it is trying to identify you.
- Back away slowly. Never run! Running may trigger a pursuit.
- Make yourself appear BIG. Pick up small children and stay in a group.
- Do not drop your pack; it may provide protection.
If you must proceed, make a wide detour around the bear, move well off the trail or wait at a safe distance for it to move on